GLAN, Sarangani Province – Around 5,000 migratory raptors were recently sighted soaring over the skies of Barangay Rio del Pilar, Glan, as the annual migration season reaches its peak. The monitoring team from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) recorded the count at Raptor Hill as of October 2, with the birds seen resting around Mount Taltak and Mount Gulo before resuming their journey to Indonesia.
According to PENRO monitoring team member Joylyn Dayondon, the number of raptors recorded from September 22 to October 2 is slightly lower than in previous years. She explained that a recent typhoon in Taiwan may have disrupted the birds’ migration routes. This aligns with a Taipei Times report noting that over 150,000 Chinese sparrowhawks flew over Kenting, Taiwan, on September 20, before their migration was temporarily halted by stormy weather.
Studies show that most of these migratory raptors originate from Japan and Taiwan, following a route that spans Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte, parts of the Visayas, and Cape San Agustin in Davao Oriental, before reaching Sarangani—their final stop before heading to Indonesia.
The local government of Glan, recognizing the ecological and tourism value of this phenomenon, institutionalized the “Langyaw Langgam Festival” through Municipal Ordinance No. 22-005, declaring September and October as months of celebration for the migratory birds. The ordinance was based on monitoring data gathered by the Raptorwatch Network Philippines (RNP) and the Environmental Conservation and Protection Center (ECPC) between 2016 and 2020.
During this year’s Langyaw Langgam Festival, the Japanese Society for the Preservation of Birds turned over four binoculars and a spotting scope to the PENRO team on October 3, further boosting the province’s monitoring and conservation activities. Earlier in February, the same group donated additional equipment to support the spring migration documentation.
Atty. Alex Tiongco, president of Raptorwatch Network Philippines, Inc., praised the progress of local conservation efforts, noting that Mount Taltak—one of the raptors’ key roosting sites—now has denser forest cover compared to a decade ago. He urged residents to continue protecting their environment and the migratory birds, emphasizing their role in maintaining ecological balance.
“These raptors help our farmers by preying on crop pests,” Tiongco said. “Protecting them means protecting our farmlands and ensuring a healthier ecosystem.”
From the scenic vantage point of Raptor Hill, locals and visitors alike witness the awe-inspiring sight of thousands of raptors gliding through the sky—a natural spectacle that has turned Glan into a vital stopover for both birds and birdwatchers in Southeast Asia.